The proposed political party “FijiansFirst” has been denied registration following a decision by the Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa, who cited concerns raised during the assessment process.

According to the Registrar, formal objections were submitted by both the National Federation Party (NFP) and The People’s Alliance (TPA).

These objections focused largely on the party’s branding, including the use of national symbols, similarities in naming, and the potential for confusion with a previously deregistered political entity.

After reviewing the submissions, Mataiciwa determined that the name “FijiansFirst” closely mirrors “FijiFirst” to a degree that could reasonably mislead or confuse the public.

On that basis, she ruled that the application contravenes Section 8(h)(iii) of the Political Parties Act, which prohibits registration of parties with names or abbreviations resembling those of deregistered parties.

Other concerns raised; such as the emblem, use of national imagery, and the possible abbreviation “FFP”; were also examined but were found not to meet the legal threshold for rejection under the Act.

The group behind the proposed party still has the option to appeal the decision to the Electoral Commission within 14 days.